Misadventures in the Multiverse

Chapter Thirty Four

All of them are still congregating together planning their next move. "Well if we are going to stop them we need to know more about whatever it is they are planning," Clyde said. "The old man said it was something called Operation Deforestation," Raleigh spoke up. "Do you guys know, anything about that? Wait why are you guys even here, and on our side?" Cyrus sighs. "It's a very long story... But no that was above our authority we have only heard the name." Mother began to speak still mangled, and half-broken. "It was his pet project. He plans to go to the center of the multiverse to avenge The Emperor's wife." "His wife?" Clyde asks. "Yes everyone in the empire knows of the tragedy," Cyrus says. "It's honestly kinda messed up," Darrian says.

On The Empire's home world The Emperor of the great multiverse empire sits in darkness. This is pretty much how he spends every day at least now. A ray of sunlight pierces through the window assaulting his face. He stands up slowly opening the door out onto the balcony something he rarely does now. He is overlooking everything he has built below. They are in a huge castle surrounded by a large city, that seems to stretch on for miles in each direction, yet there are plenty of beautiful statues, and greenery as well. Soldiers march in the streets in perfect formation. The sky is littered with ships flying all over. The Emperor is rather tall with fading brown hair and a modest beard he wears a uniform like the rest of his men just a color difference, and more decorated. He sees all this and has nothing, but an unsatisfied look. None of that matters now that his beloved at left him.

He thought back to when she was still alive everything seemed wonderful. His world had been trapped in an endless war for decades. He brought them all together and unified them bringing a new age of peace. He was a much kinder, and gentler man back then. Likewise, he wanted a better world for everyone in his empire. For his comrades, and her, but one night he approached her smiling taking her hand happy to see her. "You look wonderful tonight my dear." He smiled at her. "Thank you. You look dashing as usual too." She said teasing him. She turns her back to him overlooking the balcony. It was a lot less militarized than it is now. "Isn't it wonderful? Our children won't have to grow up in a world like the one we did. They will live in peace." She smiled patting her belly. "You're not saying?" He asks only for her to turn and nod at him with a smile. "That's wonderful." He says returning a smile, and some light tears.

She was about to say more, but her body abruptly began to burst into flames right in front of him. She falls to her knees trying to grab onto her husband. He panics looking around for something to put out the fire. He tried pouring water from a glass nearby on her to no avail. "What... is happening..." She says crying out in pain. He desperately calls for help trying to put it out with his clothing now, but that doesn't help either. She smiles at him one last time saying. "I love you." Before turning to dust before him. He falls to his knees screaming into the sky. What happened made no sense there is no reason for what happened. Yet it did. He slams his fist into the stone railing no longer wishing to remember such a painful memory. Doctor Corvus appeared beside him.

"It's rare to see you outside your room." The old man says. "What do you want oswald." The emperor says to him. "Well those bastards destroyed my lab so I had no choice but to return here for now, but also to remind you why we are doing all this." He turned to him getting right up to his face. "I don't need to be reminded what that thing took from me. This is my plan my reason to keep on existing." He said furiously. "Well, you won't have to wait much longer. G-N is almost ready then we can proceed what a pity I had to sacrifice my lab for this." He seemed to care more about that than anything else. "The Caretaker may watch over the tree, and mend it to his will, but it's outgrown his control, and soon I will use that against him." The Emperor says returning to the darkness of his room not saying another word.

Back with Clyde, and the others he asks. "So The Emperor blames The Caretaker for her death?" "Well not directly, but the multiverse necessitates that every possible outcome occurs. So there would be one where his wife died for no determinable reason as well, it just so happened to be the world our former leader presided in." Mother explains to them all. "That's awful," Raleigh said. Clyde understands why someone might want to lash out if that happened. He didn't know what to say. "Well, we obviously can't just let him destroy the multiverse. I'd think that the Caretaker would step in at that point though." Raleigh said taking some of the reins back from Clyde. "Before any of that, we need a safe place to bring your sisters." Cyrus starts to say, but before anyone can answer a large door appears, and opened up. They all get ready to fight. Loki and Lucy walk out causing them to drop their guard. Loki grabs Clyde by the collar shaking him not giving anyone time to react. "What the bloody hell were you thinking!" He then stops looking around. "Do my eyes deceive me or are there a ton of Raleigh here? Bastard, did you actually manage it?" Loki says. "Slow down we can explain everything," Clyde says as he is released. "Fine but let's go somewhere safer." He gestures to the door he just came from most likely leading to Valhalla.

"Welp you guys have fun I'm gonna head out now," Rebecca said making her portal, as proxy does his best to try, and drag mother through it. He struggles but is making ground just slowly Rebecca makes no effort to help. "Really? Just like that? We are probably going to need your help though." Clyde said. "And when that time comes I'll be there. For a price of course." She smirks at Raleigh. "Oh yeah well I'll be there to rub it into your face when we have to help you with your tragic backstory," Raleigh said crossing her arms. "Thank you..." She says reluctantly as Rebecca is about to walk through the portal. Clyde nods thanking her for her help too as it closes.

They all walk into the doors to Valhalla this time on a seemingly more remote, and calm part. "This is my villa. It seemed more appropriate for this. It's on an island some no one should bother us." Loki says as 5 maids appear. "Welcome home master." They say in unison. "Well... Other than them." He laughs as Clyde and Raleigh glare at him. After everyone settles down a little They explain everything to Loki and the Physician. All The Raleigh's chow down on food they had been denied for the longest time enjoying themselves. Raleigh smiles happily to see them all like this. "If you are going to do this you are going to need a lot of help." Lucy chimes in. "I'm sure there are a few people we have met that can," Clyde says thinking back to all the people they have met. He was sure he could count on the scouts for sure, but he wondered if people like Kyle would be willing to help after everything that happened. "Even still It's not enough," Raleigh said.

"My sister and I will help along with All The War Worlds no doubt," Loki said. "I'm afraid that won't be enough either though." He sighs. "I don't think you have much choice, but to ask The Union." The Physician says. "Ugh that sounds annoying... but you are probably right," Raleigh said not a fan of the idea. "I will do my best to help find more allies. The empire has made countless enemies over the years it's just a matter of finding them. For now, though let us rest." Loki says only to see Clyde already knocked out cold face-first into the plate of food in front of him. "Looks like the poor boy is all tuckered out now." The Physician giggles. "Oh, Raleigh I'm sure you would be happy to hear your ship is docked just outside. We should probably do a check-up before you try using it though." She said. Raleigh nodded seeming to be lost in thought as she looks at Clyde.

Everyone slowly started to retire to their rooms for the night. Raleigh carries Clyde to a bed She lays him down on it watching him sleep peacefully climbing in bed with him for a little while gripping his body tightly around hers. She stays like that for a while trying not to disturb his slumber. She had made up her mind. She was tired of dragging other people into her problems. Not only that, but she needed to resolve them, and she needed to do it without Clyde. She couldn't bare the thought of something happening to anyone else she cared about, but he was determined to help her now. This meant the world to her, but she couldn't let him go with her any longer. After a while, she let go of him leaving him and taking one last look at him.

She rested in her room for a couple of hours knowing she would need to sleep getting up early to make her leave without him. She went outside already, fully functional only to find Cyrus, and Darrian already awake, and loading her siblings into a ship like it was some sort of inter-dimensional school bus. "Good morning." He said still a little miffed about working with her with their history. "Where do you think you are taking them?" She asked. "Well, we are going to find them homes, families. Give them the lives they had been robbed of." Cyrus said adjusting his glasses. She looks like she wants to stop them still not fully trusting them, but knowing his intentions are good. "Won't the empire just find them again?" She said. "Well, The Physician solved that issue. She used her power to dampen their powers. They won't be easy to find, and the empires no longer pursuing them either." He said.

"Alright take them then, but if anything happens to them." She threatens. "I'll hold you to it." He says climbing onboard. "Are you going to leave without him after all this?" He asks her. "That's my choice." She says. "Very well." He shuts the door, and they start to lift off into the air. Raleigh waves to all of them hoping they find the life they want a little sad to see them go, but happy they are free now. She walks toward The Hopper where Loki and The Physician are waiting to see her off. It seems everyone already knew she would probably try to do this.

Clyde exits the ship. "Looks like everything is good to go, captain. Not that I could understand half of the tech in there though. What did you think you could get away from me that easy?" He said smiling. She looked surprised but smiled happy that he was there all the same. She walked up to him punching him lightly in the stomach. "You better not die." She says walking into the ship not saying anything else. "Aye aye captain." He says following her in as they lift off to go to The Union's world. "Never a dull moment with those two," Loki said to her while they watched them fly away. She clung to his arm resting her head on his shoulder. "You worry too much." She said to him.